Naval platform provided with a deck landing/take-off zone and means for handling an aircraft

ABSTRACT

A naval platform has a zone for the deck landing/take-off of an aircraft and an aircraft handler, to move the aircraft over the deck landing/take-off zone. The aircraft handler includes a body in the form of a bar for gripping and securing the main landing gear of the aircraft, provided with an anchoring hook mounted to slide in at least one rail, guiding the the aircraft on the deck landing/take-off zone. The hook is retractable, allowing the release of the body in the form of a gripping and securing bar from the rail, the body gripping the landing gear of the aircraft. The movement of the aircraft brings the body into position on the rail, and the hook into a position in which it faces the rail, and the hook back into an anchoring position in the rail in order to secure the aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a naval platform.

More specifically, the invention relates to a naval platform equipped with a landing/takeoff zone for at least one aircraft.

Description of the Related Art

Such naval platforms are for example made up of surface vessels such as corvettes, frigates or projection buildings, or even aircraft carriers.

Of course, other platforms, such as offshore oil platforms or the like, equipped with zones intended to receive helicopters, can also be considered.

Traditionally, these platforms are also equipped with means in truck form, for example with motors, for handling the aircraft to move it on the platform.

Thus for example, and in the case where the platform is made up of a vessel such as a corvette or a frigate, such industrial truck means are used for example to move a helicopter, between the landing/takeoff zone of the platform and a storage hangar thereof, provided near said zone on said platform.

These truck means facilitate interventions by operators and in particular facilitate and secure the handling of fairly large loads, for example a helicopter weighing several tons.

Many means forming industrial trucks have already been proposed for this type of application in the state of the art.

These generally include energy storage means, motor means and means for coupling to the aircraft, allowing an operator, through remote control means, for example, to control these truck means to grasp and move the aircraft.

However, these industrial truck means have a certain number of drawbacks, in particular in the considered application on board such a naval platform.

Indeed and for various operational reasons, it must be possible to move the aircraft, and in particular a helicopter, on such a platform, on heavy and even very heavy seas, and in violent winds.

The platform is then subject to relatively significant movements, reflected by risks of uncontrolled movements/displacements of the aircraft on the platform and more particularly on the landing/take off zone.

The aircraft may in fact undergo forces causing total or partial slippage, or even tilting thereof.

It is easy to imagine the repercussions of such a loss of control of the aircraft not only for its structure and that of the platform, but also for the safety of the operators on board, and in particular the staff assigned to the aviation part of the platform.

Another problem appears in light of the current size of the landing/takeoff zones and the aircraft intended for these platforms.

Indeed, helicopters are increasingly large and the zones are tending to become smaller, which requires maneuvering these aircraft multiple times, applying increasingly large and frequent stresses on the structures thereof.

Yet the structure of these aircraft has not always been sized to withstand such handling.

Furthermore, the configurations of the landing/takeoff zones means that it may be necessary to impart very pronounced curved trajectories to these industrial truck-forming means, to move the aircraft between the hangar and the landing/takeoff zone.

It is also increasingly common for the landing/takeoff zones and the hangars to be at different heights and for the handling means and the aircraft then to be made to go up or down portions for example in ramp form, which is also not provided in the earlier systems.

Lastly, the aircraft generally sets down in different locations each time and may even be set down in a location of the zone that is difficult to access in complete safety.

The invention therefore aims to resolve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To that end, the invention relates to a naval platform equipped with a deck landing/takeoff zone for at least one aircraft and means for handling said aircraft, for moving it over said deck landing/takeoff zone, characterized in that the handling means further comprise a member in the form of a bar for gripping and securing the main landing gear of the aircraft, provided with means in the form of an anchoring hook mounted such that they can slide in at least one rail for guiding the movements thereof, and therefore of the aircraft, on the deck landing/takeoff zone, and in that the hook-type means are retractable so as to allow the release of the member in the form of a gripping and securing bar from the rail, the positioning of said member such that it grips the landing gear of the aircraft, the movement of the aircraft so as to bring the member in the form of a gripping and securing bar into position on said at least one rail and the hook-type means into a position in which they face said rail, and the movement of said hook-type means back into an anchoring position in said at least one rail in order to secure the aircraft.

The platform according to the invention may include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination(s):

-   -   the hook-type means are mounted so as to be movable between an         active anchoring position and a retracted position for movement         of the member in bar form, via maneuvering means able to be         manipulated by an operator;     -   the maneuvering means comprise a lever able to be moved by an         operator and are associated with visual means for indicating the         active or retracted position of the anchoring hook-type means;     -   the ends of the member forming a gripping and securing bar         comprise means for attaching first ends of securing cables, the         second ends of which are associated with maneuvering means for         moving and securing the aircraft on the platform;     -   the maneuvering means each comprise a gear motor associated with         a drum for winding/unwinding the cable and return pulleys for         the cable;     -   it includes maneuvering means arranged symmetrically on either         side of the deck landing/takeoff zone;     -   the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in         the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said         aircraft;     -   the maneuvering means are placed between the deck         landing/takeoff zone and the hangar to secure the movements of         the aircraft between the deck landing/takeoff zone and said at         least one rail;     -   the handling means comprise a motorized truck for grasping the         auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft to move the latter;     -   it includes two parallel guide rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of one example embodiment of a naval platform according to the invention, equipped with a deck landing/takeoff zone of an aircraft and a hangar,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show top views of such a zone equipped with an example embodiment of handling means of an aircraft, included in the makeup of a platform according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an aircraft equipped with such handling means,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of a member forming a gripping and securing bar of landing gear of an aircraft,

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate different views of said member in the form of a gripping and securing bar of landing gear and the deck landing/takeoff zone of the platform, and

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of means for maneuvering and powering on said member in the form of a gripping and securing bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In these figures, and in particular in FIG. 1, a naval platform is illustrated and designated by general reference 1.

In the example embodiment illustrated in this FIG. 1, the naval platform 1 is made up of a surface building, such as a corvette or a frigate.

Of course and as previously indicated, other examples of platforms can be considered.

In the described example, the naval platform 1 therefore includes, in its rear part, a deck landing/takeoff zone, designated by general reference 2, for an aircraft, designated by general reference 3, made up, in the described example, of a rotary-wing aircraft such as a helicopter.

Other types of aircraft may be considered.

Likewise, drones may be considered.

The platform 1 is also provided, in the described example, with a storage hangar 4 for this type of aircraft and for example this helicopter, near this deck landing/takeoff zone 2.

It will also be noted that the deck landing/takeoff zone 2 of the platform 1 may for example be equipped in a manner known in itself with a harpoon grate for the aircraft 3.

This harpoon grate is designated by general reference 5 in this FIG. 1.

The structure of this grate 5 and that of the harpoon means of the helicopter being well known in the state of the art, they will not be described in more detail hereinafter.

It will simply be noted that this grate 5 is suitable for example for receiving a harpoon carried by the helicopter, in order to secure the position thereof on the platform 1, and more particularly above this grate.

As previously indicated, the helicopter must be able to be moved easily and safely, between the deck landing/takeoff zone 2 and the hangar 4 of the platform 1.

To that end, means for handling and securing the aircraft 3 are used to move it.

Such means are in fact made available to the on-board staff, and more particularly operators of the aviation zone of the platform, to assist them during these maneuvers.

FIGS. 2 to 10 show an example embodiment and installation of means for handling and securing such an aircraft on a deck landing/takeoff zone of said platform.

In these figures, one can indeed see the naval platform, which is still designated by general reference 1, the deck landing/takeoff zone thereof, designated by general reference 2, the aircraft designated by general reference 3, and the hangar designated by general reference 4.

As also illustrated in these figures, a handling truck, for example motorized, designated by general reference 6 in these figures, is used to grasp the aircraft 3 for example at its auxiliary landing gear at the front thereof.

This auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft is for example provided with casters or the like.

These motorized industrial trucks are already well known in the state of the art, such that they will not be described in more detail below.

It will simply be noted that this motorized industrial truck is for example a motorized truck equipped with energy storage means and electric motors and which is operated remotely for example by an operator, through a remote control, to make it possible to move the aircraft.

The means for handling and securing the aircraft also further comprise a member forming a bar for gripping and securing the main landing gear of the aircraft.

This gripping and securing bar is designated by general reference 7 in these figures.

As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, this gripping and securing bar 7 includes, at its ends, means 8 and 9, respectively, for coupling or gripping tires, for example 10 and 11, respectively, of the main landing gear of the aircraft 3, in order to grip said tires and connect the gripping and securing bar 7 to the aircraft 3, through its main landing gear.

This member 7 in the form of a bar for gripping and securing the landing gear of the aircraft also includes, at its ends, means 12 and 13 for attaching first ends of cables for powering and securing the aircraft 3, designated by general references 14 and 15, and provided on either side of the aircraft.

These powering and securing means of the aircraft for example extend symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis of the zone and the platform.

The attaching means 12 and 13 comprise any form of complementary hooks, for example.

The second ends of these power and securing cables 14 and 15 are in turn associated with maneuvering and powering means.

These maneuvering and powering means of these cables are respectively designated by references 16 and 17 in these figures, and in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3.

These maneuvering and powering means of these cables will be described in more detail hereinafter.

It will simply be noted for the moment that these comprise means making it possible to apply a traction force on the cable in order to secure the aircraft, through the member in gripping and securing bar form of the main landing gear thereof.

This member is in fact associated with the tires of the main landing gear of the aircraft in order to secure the movements thereof.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show a more detailed example embodiment of this member in gripping and securing bar form.

The latter is still designated by general reference 7 in these figures, and the platform is designated by general reference 1, and more specifically, the deck landing/takeoff zone thereof is designated by general reference 2.

Indeed and as illustrated in these figures, the platform includes, between the deck landing/takeoff zone 2 and for example the storage hangar 4 of the aircraft, at least one rail for guiding and securing the movements of the member 7 in gripping bar form and therefore of the aircraft.

Indeed and in the illustrated example, two parallel rails are shown.

One of these rails is illustrated in more detail and is designated by general reference 20 in FIG. 6.

This rail 20 is then suitable for receiving guide and force reacting means associated with the member in bar form 7.

Said guide and force reacting means are for example designated by general reference 21 in said figures.

These means in fact for example include force reacting and guide rollers suitable for cooperating with the edges of the rail.

Said guide and force reacting rollers are for example designated by references 22 and 23 in said figures.

Furthermore, the member of the gripping bar type 7 also includes means of the anchoring hook-type that are then movable by sliding in the guide rail(s), during movements thereof and therefore of the aircraft in order to secure it.

These means of the anchoring hook type are designated by general reference 25 in these figures.

One can in fact see that they are therefore placed and move in the rail 20, in order to keep the member 7, and therefore the aircraft during its movements, in position.

However and as illustrated in these figures and in particular in FIGS. 8 and 9, one can see that these hook-forming means 25 and these guide means 21 are retractable, to free the member of the gripping and securing bar type 7, from the rail 20.

In the retracted position of these guide and anchoring hook-type means, as illustrated for example in FIG. 8, the member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type of the main landing gear of the aircraft, is therefore completely free with respect to the platform.

It can then be moved freely on the platform, by the operators.

One can then see that when the personnel in the aviation zone of the platform wishes to maneuver an aircraft set down on the deck landing/takeoff zone, irrespective of the location where the latter is set down, it is possible for these operators to move this member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type and to place it in the gripping position on the tires of the main landing gear of the aircraft.

Once this member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type is in the attaching position of the tires of the landing gear of the aircraft, the operators can then grip the cables 14 and 15 in order to attach their corresponding ends on the additional attaching means 12 and 13 provided at the end of said member 7 of the gripping bar type.

The maneuvering and powering means 16 and 17 of these cables are then controlled to secure the movements of the aircraft on the platform.

The operators can then move the aircraft and the member of the gripping bar type, to a location in which the gripping bar member is facing the corresponding guide rail(s) of the platform.

More particularly, the operators move the aircraft 3 and the member 7 of the gripping bar type thereof, until the guide means 21 and the means of the anchoring hook type 25 of said member 7, are facing the rail(s), and in particular the rail 20.

In this position, the operators can then move said guide means 21 and hook-type means 25, from their retracted position, illustrated in FIG. 8 for example, for moving the member 7 in bar form, to their active anchoring position, illustrated for example in FIG. 6, via maneuvering means.

These maneuvering means are for example made up of a lever or crank for controlling these guide and anchoring means, designated by general reference 30 in FIG. 10.

This control crank 30 is for example associated with a handle for locking said means in the active position, designated by general reference 31 in this FIG. 10.

Of course, visual indicator means as designated by general reference 32 in this FIG. 10 can be associated with said means, and be movable between different positions to indicate visually to the operators, the active or retracted position and locked or unlocked position, of the guide means 21 and anchoring hook-type means 25 of the member 7.

Of course, other embodiments of these various means can be considered.

As is also illustrated in this FIG. 10, various complementary functions can be provided on the member of the gripping and securing bar type.

Thus for example, it is possible to provide means making it possible to adjust the separation of the ends of this member, in order to adapt this separation and therefore the gripping member, to the configuration of the aircraft.

The system must in fact be able to be adapted to maneuver different types and sizes of aircraft.

Said adjusting means are for example made up of a crank designated by general reference 33 in this FIG. 10.

A brake pedal of the member, designated by general reference 34, can also be provided.

Of course, still other functions may also be considered.

FIG. 11 shows one possible example embodiment of means for maneuvering and powering on said member in the form of a gripping and securing bar.

Such maneuvering and powering means for example extend symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis of the platform and the deck landing zone, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 11 for example shows the production of means designated by general reference 16.

Indeed, these means 16 for example comprise an electric gear motor designated by general reference 40, associated with a drum 41 for winding/unwinding a cable, for example the cable designated for instance by general reference 14 in these figures.

This cable 14 is then for example associated with a mechanism, designated by general reference 42, with return pulleys for returning said cable 14 toward the deck landing/takeoff zone.

At its corresponding free end, said cable 14 includes attaching means 43 intended to cooperate with the complementary attaching means for example 12 and 13 of the member 7 of the gripping bar type.

Traditional control means of the gear motor make it possible to control its power supply to secure the movements of the aircraft.

One can then see that the use of this system is as follows.

When an aircraft 3 is set down on the deck landing/takeoff zone 2, and it is appropriate to move it for example toward the storage hangar 4 of the platform 1, the operators of the aviation zone of the platform use the member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type.

The means for guiding 21 and anchoring 25 said member 7 are then placed in the retracted position, such that the member 7 is free to move over the zone and the platform.

The operators move said member 7 over the deck landing/takeoff zone 2, which allows them to bring said member 7 into contact with the landing gear of the aircraft 3, irrespective of the position thereof over the deck landing/takeoff zone of the platform.

The operators couple the gripping and securing member 7 to the tires of the landing gear of the aircraft 3.

Next, they attach the corresponding ends of the cables 14 and 15 to the ends of said member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type, and more particularly the attaching means 12 and 13 thereof.

The operators can also use the motorized handling means 6 associated for example with the auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft 3, to move said aircraft.

During said movement of the aircraft, the maneuvering and powering means 16 and 17 are controlled to secure the movement of the aircraft, i.e., to prevent the latter in particular from skidding or tilting over the deck landing/takeoff zone.

This movement of the aircraft continues until the member 7 of the gripping and securing bar type, and more particularly the guide means 21 and anchoring hook-type means 25 thereof, are located facing the complementary guide rails for example 20, arranged in the platform.

Once in this position, the operators maneuver the control means 30 of said guide means and means of the anchoring hook type of the gripping member 7, to move them from their retracted position to their active position in the rails.

The operators next actuate the locking means 31 of said guide and anchoring means in the active position.

Once in this position, said guide and anchoring means make it possible to secure the movements of the aircraft on the platform for the rest of the maneuvering thereof, between the zone and the hanger, since the gripping and securing member is in the attachment position in the rail(s) of the platform.

Thus and owing to the cables and the powering means thereof, the security of the aircraft, the platform and the personnel is provided even when the gripping member is not locked in the rails.

Of course, still other embodiments can be considered. 

1. A naval platform (1) equipped with a deck landing/takeoff zone (2) for at least one aircraft (3) and means for handling said aircraft, for moving said aircraft over said deck landing/takeoff zone, wherein the handling means further comprise a member (7) in the form of a bar for gripping and securing the main landing gear of the aircraft (3), provided with means (25) in the form of an anchoring hook mounted such that they can slide in at least one rail (20) for guiding the movements thereof, and therefore of the aircraft (3), on the deck landing/takeoff zone (2), and wherein the hook-type means (25) are retractable so as to allow the release of the member (7) in the form of a gripping and securing bar from the rail (20), the positioning of said member (7) such that it grips the landing gear of the aircraft (3), the movement of the aircraft (3) so as to bring the member (7) in the form of a gripping and securing bar into position on said at least one rail (20) and the hook-type means (25) into a position in which they face said rail, and the movement of said hook-type means (25) back into an anchoring position in said at least one rail (20) in order to secure the aircraft.
 2. The naval platform according to claim 1, wherein the hook-type means (25) are mounted so as to be movable between an active anchoring position and a retracted position for movement of the member (7) in bar form, via maneuvering means (30) able to be manipulated by an operator.
 3. The naval platform according to claim 2, wherein the maneuvering means comprise a lever (30) able to be moved by an operator and are associated with visual means (32) for indicating the active or retracted position of the anchoring hook-type means (25).
 4. The naval platform according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the member (7) forming a gripping and securing bar comprise means (12, 13) for attaching first ends of securing cables (14, 15), the second ends of which are associated with maneuvering means (16, 17) for moving and securing the aircraft (3) on the platform (1).
 5. The naval platform according to claim 4, wherein the maneuvering means (16, 17) each comprise a gear motor (40) associated with a drum (41) for winding/unwinding the cable (14, 15) and return pulleys (42) for the cable.
 6. The naval platform according to claim 4, further comprising maneuvering means (16, 17) arranged symmetrically on either side of the deck landing/takeoff zone (2).
 7. The naval platform according to claim 1, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate (5) for the aircraft (3) in the deck landing/takeoff zone (2) and a storage hangar (4) for said aircraft.
 8. The naval platform according to claim 7, wherein the maneuvering means are placed between the deck landing/takeoff zone (2) and the hangar (4) to secure the movements of the aircraft between the deck landing/takeoff zone and said at least one rail.
 9. The naval platform according to claim 1, wherein the handling means comprise a motorized truck (6) for gripping the auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft (3) to move the latter.
 10. The naval platform according to claim 1, further comprising two parallel guide rails.
 11. The naval platform according to claim 2, wherein the ends of the member forming a gripping and securing bar comprise means for attaching first ends of securing cables, the second ends of which are associated with maneuvering means for moving and securing the aircraft on the platform.
 12. The naval platform according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the member forming a gripping and securing bar comprise means for attaching first ends of securing cables, the second ends of which are associated with maneuvering means for moving and securing the aircraft on the platform.
 13. The naval platform according to claim 5, further comprising maneuvering means arranged symmetrically on either side of the deck landing/takeoff zone.
 14. The naval platform according to claim 2, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said aircraft.
 15. The naval platform according to claim 3, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said aircraft.
 16. The naval platform according to claim 4, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said aircraft.
 17. The naval platform according to claim 5, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said aircraft.
 18. The naval platform according to claim 6, wherein the naval platform includes a harpoon grate for the aircraft in the deck landing/takeoff zone and a storage hangar for said aircraft.
 19. The naval platform according to claim 2, wherein the handling means comprise a motorized truck for gripping the auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft to move the latter.
 20. The naval platform according to claim 3, wherein the handling means comprise a motorized truck for gripping the auxiliary landing gear of the aircraft to move the latter. 